Pilot Metropolitan Ergonomics

[Jerome10]

The Sailor looks very promising, but it unfortunately doesn't seem available in italic / stub.

 

I've considered spending "real" money on a pen before, but I can't really bring myself to do that.  Well, I guess I should say I bought a Pelikan M200 5-6 years ago.  I don't remember how much I paid, but it was definitely nearing $200 or slightly over.  Got the italic nib.  It is the WORST pen I own, and it isn't even close.  It has been sitting almost this entire time, and I'm finally about to send it to a nibmeister but I'll tell you, it is hard to pay $200 for a pen when the $15 Metropolitan kicks its butt for actual use.  Makes me skeptical you actually get more-for-your-money if you spend more.   In addition I'm not really a "pen guy".  I might keep 1 - 2 nicer ones, but I just want a nice italic / stub and something I can use regularly, writes well and reliably, is comfortable, and I don't care too much about throwing it in a bag or if it gets dropped or lost, etc. 

 

So yeah, the 74 and 91 look nice, but $$$.  I appreciate the suggestion though.  

 

Spent some more time last night looking and at the moment, I'm leaning Prera or TWSBI Eco, either with the italic / stub.  

[Audrey T]

In addition to @Arkanabar's recommendations, I would suggest trying a TWSBI. There's a good price range across different versions.

 

The stub on the TWSBI and Safari (& Kaweco, for that matter) is not as fine as that on the Metropolitan, however -- in case that matters to you.

 

You can also get a nice italic or stub (different cuts) from Mr. Pen, in the UK:

 

https://www.mrpen.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d184.html

 

I found that one to be quite nice.

 

[AmandaW]

The Wing Sung 3003 is reminiscent of the Prera, but a little larger, and will take a Plumix italic nib (which is essentially the same as the CM nib - I have both and think the only difference is the engraving).

 

The TWSBI Eco is a good pen but the 1.1mm stub is not as fine on the sideways stroke as the Pilot. The TWSBI 580 I find less comfortable because, like the MR/Metropolitan, it has threads in the wrong spot for my hand.

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, Jerome10 said:

Makes me skeptical you actually get more-for-your-money if you spend more.

 

It's not a principle that you can apply when comparing any random selection of two products in the same category. Sometimes you do get more of some feature or characteristic that you're measuring and that matters to you. Sometimes you get more of something that doesn't matter to you, for the additional spend. Sometimes you don't get more at all, but just paid too much.

 

2 hours ago, Jerome10 said:

In addition I'm not really a "pen guy".  I might keep 1 - 2 nicer ones, but I just want a nice italic / stub and something I can use regularly, writes well and reliably, is comfortable, and I don't care too much about throwing it in a bag or if it gets dropped or lost, etc. 

 

But that's the thing. Most consumers want something along those lines, i.e. to spend the least on acquiring something that meets all of their requirements, but they don't get to just be told what or how, and thereby hit the jackpot so to speak. If someone is prepared to (spend money and) go through 100 pens, then arrive at what proves to be the best one or two, and then sell off the rest (most likely ‘at a loss’), then they can have the certain knowledge as well as actual possession of what is/are the best fit for his requirements, after effectively having paid the price for the intangible benefit of knowing. The latter bit is what crowdsourcing (for free information) cannot actually do with someone with any assurance or level of confidence. The alternative is simply to spend an acceptable amount of money on something that at least meets one's minimum/critical requirements, never mind whether there is something cheaper and available that could do the job as well or better, and not be filled with regret when he learns retrospectively that it could have been possible for him to choose ‘better’, if only he had perfect and complete information available at the time on which to perform analysis.

 

 

[Jerome10]

On 1/25/2022 at 1:00 PM, Audrey T said:

In addition to @Arkanabar's recommendations, I would suggest trying a TWSBI. There's a good price range across different versions.

 

The stub on the TWSBI and Safari (& Kaweco, for that matter) is not as fine as that on the Metropolitan, however -- in case that matters to you.

 

You can also get a nice italic or stub (different cuts) from Mr. Pen, in the UK:

 

https://www.mrpen.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d184.html

 

I found that one to be quite nice.

 

Actually my favorite pen that I own is the Mr Pen Churchman's Prescriptor!  He guided me on nib choices and (if I remember correctly) suggested medium cursive stub.  Its magnificent.  Its just a big, heavy pen.  Love having it around but not one that I can easily throw in a bag etc.   I've been thinking about the Parson's Essential for awhile...

[Jerome10]

On 1/25/2022 at 3:35 PM, A Smug Dill said:

 

It's not a principle that you can apply when comparing any random selection of two products in the same category. Sometimes you do get more of some feature or characteristic that you're measuring and that matters to you. Sometimes you get more of something that doesn't matter to you, for the additional spend. Sometimes you don't get more at all, but just paid too much.

 

 

But that's the thing. Most consumers want something along those lines, i.e. to spend the least on acquiring something that meets all of their requirements, but they don't get to just be told what or how, and thereby hit the jackpot so to speak. If someone is prepared to (spend money and) go through 100 pens, then arrive at what proves to be the best one or two, and then sell off the rest (most likely ‘at a loss’), then they can have the certain knowledge as well as actual possession of what is/are the best fit for his requirements, after effectively having paid the price for the intangible benefit of knowing. The latter bit is what crowdsourcing (for free information) cannot actually do with someone with any assurance or level of confidence. The alternative is simply to spend an acceptable amount of money on something that at least meets one's minimum/critical requirements, never mind whether there is something cheaper and available that could do the job as well or better, and not be filled with regret when he learns retrospectively that it could have been possible for him to choose ‘better’, if only he had perfect and complete information available at the time on which to perform analysis.

 

 

"complete information and analysis".  You are right!  And unfortunately a thing I can start down a road of finding that ultimate "better".  Trying to work on it a bit, and avoid it with pens.  So for now, the "good enough" has to be my target.  Thanks for the feedback!

[Audrey T]

11 hours ago, Jerome10 said:

Actually my favorite pen that I own is the Mr Pen Churchman's Prescriptor!  He guided me on nib choices and (if I remember correctly) suggested medium cursive stub.  Its magnificent.  Its just a big, heavy pen.  Love having it around but not one that I can easily throw in a bag etc.   I've been thinking about the Parson's Essential for awhile...

Yes, get that too! 😉